Former MLB GM has a terrible Chicago White Sox trade

There is a growing expectation that the Chicago White Sox will be trading starting pitcher Dylan Cease this off-season.

The White Sox are not expected to be a contender over the course of Cease’s final two years of team control and with chances of the two sides reaching a contract extension unlikely, it would seem that the best move for the White Sox would be to trade their ace this winter.

With the Winter Meetings one week away, it seems Cease will be a popular name in trade discussions.

One proposed Cease trade offered by former Major League Baseball general manager Jim Bowden in The Athletic (Subscription Required) would be a terrible deal if made by the White Sox. The trade has the White Sox sending Cease to the Cincinnati Reds for infielder Jonathan India and the Reds’ 2023 first-round selection, right-handed pitcher Ty Floyd.

Since his rookie season in 2021 where he posted a 122 wRC+ in 631 plate appearances, India has graded out to be an average offensive player in each of the following two seasons. India posted a 96 wRC+ in 2022 followed by a 99 mark last season.

Floyd debuted on MLB Pipeline as the Reds’ 12th overall prospect.

There is no question that India and Floyd would be a good start to a package for the Reds in exchange for Cease but there certainly would need to be more included. That is why it highlights the reason why Bowden is a former general manager considering he thinks this trade is something that the White Sox wouldn’t be able to say no to.

The White Sox would say no to this trade in an instant and likely return to their trade talks with the Los Angeles Dodgers if that was going to be the offer from the Reds.